What's your favorite pickup for a 'classic' Precision sound?

[sbpark]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I wouldn't look to it as my only P. Model P's are darker on top and have a bigger low mid. Love their sound for some things, but if I only had one P, I'd put the Original on it.

That's good to know, because I only have one bass, and it's an old P, and I ordered a 62 'Original' pup!

[tbplayer59]

I'm sure that's a good choice.

[bassnyc1]

Don't want to hijack this thread but I was thinking of starting a similar one only asking the same question about a 5 string P pickup. The picking seem pretty slim. Anybody have any info on this?

By the way, I have a Nordstrand NP5 in my new Valenti. It's great but it sounds more modern than traditional to my ears.

[bassnyc1]

Anyone?

[maturanesa]

i would choose Lindy Fralins

[sbpark]

Well, the '62 "Original" arrived today, and I'll install it later this afternoon. Pretty stocked an have high hopes! I also plan on using the foam that the pickup is cased in for a mute to really give it that old-school tone!

[Pimmsley]

Very exciting... keep us posted on your progress and findings... I love my '62 Jazz RI's

[sbpark]

Ok, so I installed the '62 "Original" into my 76 P-bass. At this point the bass is pretty much back to (very close) to original condition. The exception being the pickup obviously, and the bridge is a new Fender vintage bridge with the threaded saddles.

Installing it was a piece of cake, soldered her in, popped on the covers, screws, set the pickup height, and all is good. Immediately I noticed compared to the Dimarzio Model P that was in there, the '62 is much more clear, has more more punch and is tighter and more defined. Sounds more like what I consider a P-bass should sound like, and also does have a bit of growl to it. It just sounds less muddy and more balanced than the Model P. More clarity and note separation. Really was able to nail the Motown sound with some sponge stuffed under the strings at the bridge and the tone knob cut a bit, but also got a really cool tone that reminded be a lot of Bruce Foxton's tone (The Jam) reminiscent of 'Town Called Malice". All in all, very stoked. For what it's worth I have Chromes (45-100) on and playing through a PF500 with a PF115 cab.

[John E]

JimmyM, Key word there was "Session" guy. Just to clarify, my favorite P Bass sound is the the Frailin followed by the 62RI.

sbpark, Glad you're digging your RI man. Great stuff!

[Pimmsley]

Great news !

[adivin]

Originally Posted by sbpark

Ok, so I installed the '62 "Original" into my 76 P-bass. At this point the bass is pretty much back to (very close) to original condition. The exception being the pickup obviously, and the bridge is a new Fender vintage bridge with the threaded saddles.

Installing it was a piece of cake, soldered her in, popped on the covers, screws, set the pickup height, and all is good. Immediately I noticed compared to the Dimarzio Model P that was in there, the '62 is much more clear, has more more punch and is tighter and more defined. Sounds more like what I consider a P-bass should sound like, and also does have a bit of growl to it. It just sounds less muddy and more balanced than the Model P. More clarity and note separation. Really was able to nail the Motown sound with some sponge stuffed under the strings at the bridge and the tone knob cut a bit, but also got a really cool tone that reminded be a lot of Bruce Foxton's tone (The Jam) reminiscent of 'Town Called Malice". All in all, very stoked. For what it's worth I have Chromes (45-100) on and playing through a PF500 with a PF115 cab.

I believe Foxton used the Ric on Town Called Mallice.

[sbpark]

Originally Posted by adivin

I believe Foxton used the Ric on Town Called Mallice.

I don't care what he used. It sounds similar and just using it as a reference.

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by Pimmsley

I always thought that was an Alembic

The Chain was the Alembic. I read that in an interview with him.

He got a great tone no matter what he was playing though.

[Co0O]

Originally Posted by adivin

I believe Foxton used the Ric on Town Called Mallice.

Sure about that? In the Town Called Malice video, he uses his Waterstone Brighton '64: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfpRm-p7qlY
I know he used the Brighton on Start!, which has pretty much the same sound. He switched to Precision as his main bass in the All Mod Cons period, a few years earlier.

[dukeorock]

Hoping this was a good choice...used to always use Barts, but not in years...Just ordered a Fralin 5% overwound because the description was 'a little more lows and low mids, slightly less highs' which is exactly what I'm looking for

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by Co0O

Sure about that? In the Town Called Malice video, he uses his Waterstone Brighton '64: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfpRm-p7qlY
I know he used the Brighton on Start!, which has pretty much the same sound. He switched to Precision as his main bass in the All Mod Cons period, a few years earlier.

Yeah, it's a Rick. He used a Rick on the whole Sound Affects album too. You can hear it. People pose with all kinds of things in videos.

You wont find a single photo of him with that bass. At least I never had. Just the Rick and the P bass.







But here he is with a Gibson EB-2. Waterstone wasn't around back then I don't think.

[dukeorock]

Not to contribute to this derail, BUT...

I saw the Jam on their last US tour...Bruce played a lot of Pbass, a little hollowbody and a song or two on his Ric...

[Bassamatic]

This has been a very interesting thread - thanks to all that have contributed.

I have tried nearly every pickup mentioned here in my '08 MIA P with LaBella flats, and keep going back to the original pickups. Perhaps they are closest to the '62 RI, which I have not tried, but they sound the best to me - full of that P bass sound.

[sbpark]

Day 2 with the '62 pup, and still digging it.

[Pimmsley]

Originally Posted by sbpark

Day 2 with the '62 pup, and still digging it.